Nawazuddin Siddiqui today declared on Twitter, “And it is possible that Saadat Hasan dies, but MANTO remains alive”. Glad to inform that ‘MANTO’ is selected for competition at #Cannes2018 in #UnCertainRegard section. Congratulations @nanditadas and Team #Manto.” Interestingly, the film had premiered at the fest last year. It apparently had left buyers heavily intrigued. Talking to PTI, director Nandita Das had said, “Manto was a politically engaged writer whose work was infused with deep humanism. He gave voice to the voiceless by turning the spotlight on factory workers, prostitutes and others existing on the margins of society. The relevance of his stories hasn’t diminished one bit. If anything, it has increased.” This year it will contest for the ultimate prize in the Un-Certain regards category at the festival. Since a while it is said that the festival gets more attention in India for the actresses who walk the red carpet. But that doesn’t mean Manto is the only one to make it to the contest categories. Here are other films who have been variously awarded at the fest…
Neecha Nagar (1946)
This Chetan Anand film was not only the first film to make it to the Cannes Film Festival but was also the one which picked up the Palm D’Or. It is in fact the only film to get that honour. It was inspired by Russian writer Maxim Gorky’s The Lower Depths and starred Raiq Ahmed, Uma Anand and Kamini Kaushal.
Awaara (1951)
Raj Kapoor’s film on poor guy and rich girl love story took the film to Cannes and even pitted it against a lot of other movies for the Palme d’Or. But it failed to clinch it at the end.
Do Bigha Zamin (1953)
Do Bigha Zamin was awarded the Prix International at the fest. It was the first film to win that award at the fest. The film is about a poor farmer’s bid to keep his land intact and keep his family afloat.
Pather Panchali (1955)
Satyajit Ray’s biggest contribution to Indian Cinema Pather Panchali won the Best Human Document Award at the festival.
Kharij (1982)
Kharij was nominated for the Golden Palm category but won the Jury Award instead at the fest. It is a story about the death of a child servant and what the father of the kid has to go through because of that.
Salaam Bombay (1988)
Mira Nair’s film on Mumbai won not one but two awards at the Cannes Film Festival. It took home the coveted Golden Camera and Audience awards.
Udaan (2010)
Vikramaditya Motwane’s debut directorial Udaan was nominated in the Un-certain regard category. It is a story about a teenager’s struggle with his expulsion from school, sudden discovery of his half-brother and dealing with a strict father.
Miss Lovely (2012)
Miss Lovely spoke about the c-grade industry of sleazy films, directed by Ashim Ahluwalia. It too contested for the prize in the Uncertain regards section.
Lunchbox (2013)
One of the most acclaimed Indian film ever, Lunchbox won the audience award at the fest. It was the forbidden love between an ageing man and a housewife which blossomed through letters in tiffin boxes.
Hopefully, Manto will fetch India awards this year.